The coaching industry is evolving—and so are the expectations placed on those who lead inside it. For experienced coaches, the goal isn’t merely to accumulate more credentials or mastering all coaching models; it’s about building something durable: a practice that scales, delivers measurable impact, and reflects the kind of leadership they aim to instill in others. All while living the life they always wanted to design and experience, we call it “Finding Joy in the Journey”.
Top executive leadership and business coaching programs recognize this. They don’t just equip coaches with knowledge—they develop leadership capacity, teach influence, and provide scalable business models that support lasting transformation.
While there are many executive leadership and business coaching models in the market worldwide, few deliver what seasoned coaches truly need: the structure, focus, and community to create lasting influence—and sustainable results.
From Transactional to Transformative
Traditional coaching models—characterized by one-on-one, hour-for-hour engagements—have their benefits and limits. While they can be meaningful, they rarely scale effectively and often place the burden of reinvention on the coach, necessitating new tools, language, and materials for every engagement. They are a solid place to begin a coaching career, however the coach eventually realizes they are executing a “money for time” business model, which is not scalable and can result in either burnout or “professional boredom” once they are at the top of their game.
The most respected coaching executive training programs share a common thread: they teach coaches how to move beyond one-off sessions and toward long-term client transformation. This shift—from reactive support to proactive partnership—redefines the coach’s role as one of leadership, not just facilitation. The value creation from the coach in partnership moves from a single dimension of one on one coaching models, to a three dimensional partnership delivering additional value to the entire execution leadership team, and to the structure and scale of the client’s business model. We refer to this strategic transition from “Coach to Trusted Advisor” and our research is revealing the key characteristics of the Coach’s transformation process.
Strategic coaches understand the importance of shifting from isolated engagements to structured systems. They move from scattered insights to consistent delivery, evolving from a coach to a strategic partner (aka “Trusted Advisor”). This however is not for the “faint of heart”, it requires humility of character, willingness to change, and a commitment to “do the work” of transformation. It is a multi-year process that becomes one of the richest eras of one’s coaching career as a Professional Services Provider.
The Three-Dimensional Journey to Becoming an Executive Leadership and Business Coach
Let me illustrate. I am a “Math Guy, (Geek?)”, in my undergraduate years, I took my electives in advanced mathematics, forgoing the easier (perhaps more “fun”) route of Art History and Current World Issues electives. I still pull out my Differentiate Equations textbooks and marvel over the beauty of the equations (see! “Math Geek”!). In visual mathematics, we define shapes and objects in three dimensions, the x, y and z axes. Often a Coach will begin an exciting career focusing on the “x axis” of one on one coaching of leaders. Wonderful. However, they eventually master their craft, are limited in income, and some experience “professional boredom” (Note: Pay attention; this is a sign of pending greatness!) Now the coach has what I refer to as “The Coaches’ Dilemma.”
“Do I continue as is…or is there something greater I can lean into?” For those with the courage and humility to take the step, they can experience the “y-axis” of learning how to build high performance leadership teams and cultures (now, the coach is working with the entire leadership team as a living organism, not just individual leaders.) This unlocks greater income potential, yet more importantly greater professional challenge for them, and the great need to learn “how” from seasoned mentors who have trod this path already, and are willing to share. Now the coach is moving from an Executive Leadership Coach and adding “Business Coach” to their game, which increases their differentiation in the market, income potential (significantly), and challenges their intellect while honing new relationship skills to succeed. Mastering this stage of their journey will take years, is invigorating, challenging, and deeply satisfying. It creates a “Professional Joy Rush” that is indescribable unless you have experienced it. There are a select few in the world that have experienced this and really grasp the concept.
Becoming a Three-Dimensional Executive Leadership and Business Coach
Finally, in the process of mastering helping build leadership teams, the interdependent requirement to become a skillful Business Advisor emerges from within the conversations with executive leadership teams. This creates the opportunity for future scale, learning, challenge and income for the Coach, to transform further through the process of becoming a credible Business Coach. An effective Business coach must have a “Business Operating System”, a framework of tools, content, and skills, in which to guide a client to success. The acquisition and honing of these skills and use of frameworks is the z-axis, and represents full ascension to an optimized business model for a professional Executive Leadership and Business Coach. Based on our recent research, this process can take 7-10 years to achieve mastery level without a core Professional Development Roadmap to accelerate the journey to a 5-7 year timeline.
In summary, the research shows there is a model, path and process to become a three dimensional Executive Leadership and Business Coach that is highly lucrative, professionally challenging, and of utmost value to businesses that wish to be at the top of their market segment. An example is Marcay Homes in Phoenix, Arizona, selected as the “Best Company to Work For” in the state of Arizona.
Why a Scalable Business Model Matters
Research and nearly two decades of operating experience is showing the distinction between a coach and a trusted advisor isn’t merely talent—it’s structure and intentionality. Many coaches reach a point where they’re tired of reinventing the wheel—or worse, building it from scratch with every new client. They want a better way to grow a coaching practice that generates six-figure+ engagements with high-impact clients, while still preserving the freedom and lifestyle that drew them to coaching in the first place. This requires intentional introspection in asking the question: “Am I ready to and willing to do the work to transform to the next level?” Easy Question. Hard Execution.
A scalable business model fosters a shared language, repeatable processes, and visible momentum. It provides both the coach and client with a clear roadmap. When that model is in place, coaches spend less time guessing and more time growing. They shift from transactional to transformational work—with clients who stay longer, pay substantially more and refer other CEOs in their network to them often.
That’s why executive leadership and business coaching training that emphasizes scalable business models and influence-based leadership is becoming the benchmark for coaches who want to do more than just deliver sessions. It’s how they create a business that supports the life they want to lead—and the impact they want to make.
Coaching Models That Leverage the Power of Collective Intelligence
The best coaches don’t grow in isolation. They grow inside a trusted community—one that sharpens their thinking, surfaces blind spots, and holds them to a higher standard.
A high functioning peer community functions as a collaborative ecosystem of experienced coaches committed to excellence. They share strategies, test ideas, and refine approaches together. They don’t compete—they collaborate. And the result is a stronger practice for everyone.
This kind of community transforms “my coaching business” into “our collective transformation.” Top coaching programs understand that peer feedback and collaboration drive better outcomes—because influence grows stronger in community.
Lessons from the 1936 Olympic Rowing Team on Flow, Teamwork, and Coaching Excellence
Let me illustrate with a wonderful example based on history that inspires. In the book (and movie) “The Boys in the Boat”, author Daniel James Brown chronicles the 1936 Rowing Team from the United States that won the Olympic Gold Medal against both better funded (resourced) teams and the unfair homefield advantage of Adolf Hitler’s hosting the games in Berlin and surrounding environs. In rowing (I am no expert, but live three hours South of the University of Washington Boat House on Lake Washington where this all originated and have studied their story as a fellow University of Washington alumni) there is a phenomena that is rarely experienced called “swing”, it is a state of near perfect flow of motion in a boat where each of the individual rowing are in synchronous motion, power and cadence. The result of being in “swing” is that the boat unperceptive lifts slightly upward out of and on top of the water, facilitating less resistance and faster speeds for the boat. It results in a strategic element of winning races, but also a ”euphoric” state amongst the rowers that only they can truly experience and describe. So it is with a Coach that one transforms into a Trusted Advisor to the top of their game. There wells up inside a deep joy and satisfaction in serving and catalyzing client growth, success and achievement.
What Shifts When You Leverage Scalable Coaching Models
Coaches who embrace this structure and surround themselves with the right community often report:
- A sharper, highly differentiated value proposition
- More predictable client outcomes
- The ability to command premium pricing with confidence
- A calendar aligned with their lifestyle—not just their workload
- A business model that builds life legacy, in addition to wealth, professional success and satisfaction (more on this in a future Blog)
And most importantly, they stop toiling to reinvent the wheel. Because the model already exists—and it works.
Imagine working with mid-market clients, spending an aggregate of 6-8 days per year with each one, earning $100K–$150K per engagement, engagements that continue for 5-10 years, and a continuous wellspring of referrals due to their satisfaction and enthusiasm for the results you helped create.
Measuring What Matters
In these business models, success isn’t abstract—it’s measurable. Three dimensional coaching models emphasize outcomes in three areas that matter most:
- Income: Coaches embracing this business model report 2X-3X increase in cash flow by shifting to sustainable, long-term engagements.
- Time: Coaches executing on this model have doubled revenue while cutting their time in half—achieving 4X leverage through structure and clarity.
- Impact: For some, that means more time with family. For others, traveling the globe to enjoy culture, cuisine and history. And yet, for a few others, it’s launching global “life legacy” initiatives. Either way, it’s rich, experiential, purpose-backed success, not just performance.
This measurement discipline doesn’t just improve coaching effectiveness—it helps coaches design the life they want to live. Leading executive coaching programs teach that influence isn’t accidental—it’s measurable.
What Sets This Approach Apart from Other Coaching Models
This three dimensional business model is built for experienced coaches who are ready to scale their impact and income—without sacrificing time or purpose.
It isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing fewer right things with more clarity. Coaches transitioning from isolated delivery to strategic advisory—from chasing clients to building a business where clients return because the value is unmatched.
This is the kind of executive coaching development ecosystem that’s designed to sharpen your thinking, strengthen your practice, and support the lifestyle you’ve worked hard to create.
And it works—because it’s built by coaches, for coaches, who believe in measurable transformation.
Yet, is it not easy… it requires commitment, investment, hard work, and most of all, a willingness to be vulnerable with peers, and stepping into the “circle of discomfort” to grow, change and mature.
Gravitas is a global community of premium coaches focused on one thing—developing the kind of coaching practices that deliver high-value outcomes and personal freedom. We support experienced coaches through advanced certification, peer connection, and a scalable business model designed to help them grow their impact and income without overextending their time.